Information processing apparatus, information processing method, storage medium, and printing system

ABSTRACT

It is an object to print an image as it is inherently formed. Objects constructing the image are separated to character train objects in which there is no need to consider an overlap and the other objects by a character train separator. A character train converter converts the separated character train objects in which there is no need to consider the overlap into character code information and transmits to a printer. The other objects are converted into image information by a drawer and transmitted to the printer. The printer synthesizes a glyph formed by a glyph generator from the character code information onto the received image information and outputs.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The invention relates to an information processing apparatus, aninformation processing method, a storage medium, and a printing systemfor transmitting print data to a printer and allowing the print data tobe printed by the printer.

[0003] 2. Related Background Art

[0004] Among the conventional printing systems, there is a printingsystem for processing a character train object by a method differentfrom that of a graphics object and transferring the processed object toa printer.

[0005]FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an example of a printing system(hereinafter, simply referred to as a system) according to theconventional method.

[0006] Description of Outline of System

[0007] As shown in FIG. 14, a host computer (hereinafter, simplyreferred to as a host) 3000 and a printer 1500 are connected throughsome communication interface 21 such as a centronics or the like. Acharacter train object 10001 is transferred as character traininformation 10003 to the printer 1500. A graphics object 10002 istransferred as image bit map data serving as image information 10004 tothe printer 1500.

[0008] Transferring Method which is Changed in Accordance with the Kindof Drawing Object

[0009] In the above system, a case where only the character train object10001 is printed as a drawing object of one page of a recording paperwill now be considered.

[0010] In case of the general printing of only characters, an amount ofdata in which the character train objects of one page were developed inan image bit map is larger than a data amount of character train codeinformation. Therefore, a transfer data amount can be more suppressed bythe method of transferring the character train objects as charactertrain code information to the printer rather than the method ofdeveloping all of the drawing objects to bit map image data andtransferring the bit map image data from the host to the printer.Therefore, the transferring method is changed in accordance with thekind of drawing object, thereby realizing a high efficiency of the datatransfer.

[0011] Description of Processes Time from Data Input to Data Output

[0012] According to the above system, one of subsystems which operate bythe host 3000, for example, a document processing subsystem inputs thecharacter train object 10001 as a drawing object or the graphics object10002 to a driver 101 which operates in the host 3000, so that theprocesses are started.

[0013] The driver 101 to which the drawing object has been inputtedexecutes the following processes in accordance with the kind of inputdrawing object until the input of the drawing objects of one page of therecording paper is finished.

[0014] (1) When the character train object 10001 is inputted, the driver101 converts the character train object into character train codeinformation by using a character train converter 1001 and transfers theconverted information as character train information 10003 to theprinter 1500.

[0015] (.2) When the graphics object 10002 is inputted, the input objectis once developed as a bit map image 100001 into a memory 1003 servingas a virtual output medium by using a drawer 1002. In this instance, nocharacter information is included in the bit map image 100001. When thedrawing objects of one page of the recording paper are inputted, the bitmap image 100001 drawn so far is transferred as image information 10004to the printer 1500.

[0016] When all of the drawing objects of one page of the recordingpaper are processed by the driver, the character train information 10003corresponding to the character train objects 10001 of one page of therecording paper and/or the image information 10004 in which the graphicsobjects 10002 of one page of the recording paper were developed has beeninputted in the printer 1500.

[0017] The printer 1500 executes the following processes.

[0018] (1) A glyph generator 1004 develops the input character traininformation 10003 into bit map information 10005 (Glyph) of a charactertrain by using font information 10006 stored in a built-in font memory(FONT) 1006.

[0019] (2) A glyph synthesizer 1005 overwrites the developed glyphinformation 10005 onto the bit map image as image information 10004 ofone page of the recording paper.

[0020] A bit map image 100002 which is obtained as a result of the aboveprocesses becomes a print result.

[0021] Specification that is Common to the Conventional Art

[0022] In the system mentioned in the above example, it is assumed thata possibility in which the other drawing objects are overlapped on thecharacter train object is low so long as a general printed matter isprinted. A drawing order of the character train is ignored. For example,a similar specification is also used in a case of annexed UniDriver as ageneral driver of MS-Windows as a typical operating system which isinstalled in the host. By using such a specification, the followingadvantages can be obtained.

[0023] (1) While the driver develops the graphics object into the bitmap image, by developing the character train object into the glyphinformation in the printer driver, the printing time can be reduced.

[0024] (2) In the case where the drawing objects of one page of therecording paper are constructed by only the character train objects,there is no need to transfer the bit map image, so that a transfer dataamount between the host and the printer is reduced.

[0025] However, in the system, information of the drawing order in thecharacter train objects is consequently lost.

[0026]FIG. 2A shows an example of an image obtained by overlaying acharacter train 202 (“ABCD”) onto a rectangle fill 201, namely, an imageobtained by drawing the character train 202 after the rectangle fill201. FIG. 2B shows an example of an image obtained by overlaying acharacter train 204 under a rectangle fill 203, namely, an imageobtained by drawing the character train 204 before the rectangle fill203. As mentioned above, even in the image in which the same object isarranged at the same position in the picture plane, the output resultsare different depending on a difference of the drawing order. From thisreason, in case of the conventional printing system for performingprocesses while ignoring the drawing order, there exists a case wherethe character train objects in the printer are drawn in accordance withthe drawing order different from the order which the user inherentlywants to draw, so that the inherent print result and the print resultactually obtained remarkably differ.

[0027] As a simplest method to solve the above problem, there isconsidered a method of drawing all of the drawing objects into a bit mapimage on the driver 101 side in accordance with the drawing orderwithout distinguishing the character train objects from the otherdrawing objects. However, if the printing is performed by this method,even when the drawing objects of one page constructed by only thecharacter train objects are outputted, it is necessary to transfer allof the objects to the printer by the bit map image and the formation ofall of the bit map images has to be performed by the host apparatus. Inother words, all of the advantages obtained in the apparatus of FIG. 14are lost.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0028] The invention is made in consideration of the above conventionaltechniques and it is an object of the invention to make it possible toprint by a printer on the basis of a designated drawing result. Anotherobject of the invention is that an overlap of character train objectsand drawing objects is discriminated from attribute information andspace information, and with respect to the character train objects whichdo not need to consider an overlap, by transmitting them as charactertrain information to a printer, an amount of data to be transmitted isreduced, and by developing an image in parallel with the printer, aprocessing efficiency is improved, and an overlap extent of the drawingobjects is preserved and the drawing objects are outputted from theprinter as an inherent image to be formed.

[0029] Still another object of the invention is to prevent a situationsuch that since a time limitation and a limitation of the number oftimes are provided for the overlap space discrimination, long time isconsumed for the purpose of discrimination.

[0030] According to the invention, there is provided an informationprocessing apparatus comprising:

[0031] discriminating means for discriminating whether objects aredrawing objects to be drawn in consideration of a drawing order or not;and

[0032] transfer means for, when it is determined by the discriminatingmeans that the objects are the drawing objects to be drawn inconsideration of the drawing order, forming image data corresponding tothe drawing objects and transferring formed image data as print data toa printer and for, when it is decided by the discriminating means thatthe objects are the drawing objects in which there is no need to draw inconsideration of the drawing order, forming code data corresponding tothe drawing objects and transferring formed code data as print data tothe printer.

[0033] According to the invention, there is also provided an informationprocessing method comprising:

[0034] a discriminating step of discriminating whether objects aredrawing objects to be drawn in consideration of a drawing order or not;and

[0035] a transfer step of, when it is determined by the discriminatingstep that the objects are the drawing objects to be drawn inconsideration of the drawing order, forming image data corresponding tothe drawing objects and transferring formed image data as print data toa printer and, when it is decided by the discriminating step that theobjects are the drawing objects in which there is no need to draw inconsideration of the drawing order, forming code data corresponding tothe drawing objects and transferring formed code data as print data tothe printer.

[0036] According to the invention, there is provided a storage mediumfor storing programs comprising:

[0037] a discriminating step of discriminating whether objects aredrawing objects to be drawn in consideration of a drawing order or not;and

[0038] a transfer step of, when it is determined by the discriminatingstep that the objects are the drawing objects to be drawn inconsideration of the drawing order, forming image data corresponding tothe drawing objects and transferring formed image data as print data toa printer and, when it is decided by the discriminating step that theobjects are the drawing objects in which there is no need to draw inconsideration of the drawing order, forming code data corresponding tothe drawing objects and transferring formed code data as print data tothe printer.

[0039] According to the invention, there is provided a printing systemcomprising:

[0040] an information processing apparatus having discriminating meansfor discriminating whether objects are drawing objects to be drawn inconsideration of a drawing order or not and transfer means for, when itis determined by the discriminating means that the objects are thedrawing objects to be drawn in consideration of the drawing order,forming image data corresponding to the drawing objects and transferringformed image data as print data to a printer and for, when it is decidedby the discriminating means that the objects are the drawing objects inwhich there is no need to draw in consideration of the drawing order,forming code data corresponding to the drawing objects and transferringformed code data as print data to the printer; and

[0041] the printer for forming image data corresponding to the code datawhich is transferred from the information processing apparatus,synthesizing formed image data and image data to be transferred, andprinting synthesized image data.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0042]FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a printing system of an embodiment;

[0043]FIGS. 2A and 2B are diagrams showing a difference of outputresults due to a drawing order;

[0044]FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a construction of a printingsystem comprising a host 3000, a printer 1500, and a bidirectionalinterface 21 for mutually connecting them;

[0045]FIG. 4 is a side sectional view showing an internal structure of aprinter including a printer engine 17 for recording by using anelectrophotographic system;

[0046]FIG. 5 is an external perspective view showing an outline of aconstruction of an ink jet printer IJRA;

[0047]FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a construction of a character trainseparator;

[0048]FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a processing concept of a banddivision;

[0049]FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a band list;

[0050]FIG. 9 is a processing flowchart in a band divider;

[0051]FIGS. 10A and 10B are diagrams showing examples in the case wherean overlap of character trains and figures has to be considered and thecase where there is no need to consider such an overlap;

[0052]FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing processes of an attributediscriminator to discriminate whether the overlap of character trainsand figures has to be considered or not;

[0053]FIG. 12 is a processing flowchart in a space discriminator;

[0054]FIG. 13 is a flowchart for a procedure to form character traininformation or image information from each drawing object; and

[0055]FIG. 14 is a block diagram of a conventional printing system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0056]FIG. 1 shows a construction of a printing system according to anembodiment of the invention.

[0057] Construction and Operation of a Printing System

[0058] In FIG. 1, in the host 3000, various application programs (notshown) operate and drawing objects such as character trains, graphics,or the like as necessary in order to print are outputted and areinputted to the printer driver 101, which will be explained hereinlater.

[0059] The “drawing object” used here denotes a concept of an abstracteddrawing command such as character train, line, rectangle, polygon, bitmap, image, or the like which is transferred from a system such as an OSor the like on the host to the printer. In particular, a drawing objectindicative of a drawing of a character train is classified and called acharacter train object and a drawing object regarding a drawing of theother drawing objects is classified and called a graphics object.“Character train information” assumes information showing a printing ofa character train including character codes or the like which aretransferred from the host to the printer. “Image information” assumesinformation such as an image map or the like which is transferred fromthe host to the printer in order to show a printing of graphics.

[0060] The host 3000 and printer 1500 are coupled by some communicationmedium 21 such as a centronics or the like. The character train object10001 is transferred as character train information 10003 includingcharacter codes, printing positions, and the like to the printer 1500.The graphics object 10002 is transferred as image information 10004including the bit map image to the printer 1500.

[0061] The printer driver 101 to which the drawing object is inputtedfrom an application program or the like executes the following processesuntil the input of drawing objects of one page is finished in dependenceon the kind of inputted drawing object.

[0062] (1) When the drawing objects (character train object 10001 andgraphics object 10002) are inputted, for the character train objects inone page, the drawing objects inputted after that are discriminated andthe character train objects on which the other objects do not overlap orthe character train objects in which there is no need to consider anoverlap are separated as non-order character train objects from theother drawing objects by a character train separator 400.

[0063] (2) The separated non-order character train objects are convertedinto character train information by the character train converter 1001and is transferred as character train information 10003 to the printer1500 at any time.

[0064] (3) The bit map image 100001 is developed by a drawer 401 fromthe drawing objects other than the non-order character train objects. Inthis instance, the character train objects are developed into a bit mapimage by using a font file 402. The developed bit map image istransferred as image information 10004 to the printer 1500 side.

[0065] On the other hand, the printer 1500 executes the followingprocesses.

[0066] (1) From the inputted character train information 10003, theglyph information 10005 (bit map information of the character train) isdeveloped by the glyph generator 1004 by using the font information10006 in which the built-in font 1006 has been stored.

[0067] (2) The developed glyph information 10005 is overwritten by theglyph synthesizer 1005 onto the bit map image 100001 in which all of thegraphics objects 10002 of one page have been developed.

[0068] In the embodiment, the driver 101 comprises the character trainseparator 400, the drawer 401 for converting the graphics objects 10002and character train objects 10001 into the bit map image, and the fontfile 402 for supplying font information to the drawer 401 in addition tothe conventional construction. First, the character train separator 400will be described in detail.

[0069] Construction of the Character Train Separator

[0070] The character train separator is constructed by the following twodiscriminators.

[0071] 1) Attribute discriminator

[0072] A discriminator to realize that in the case where even if adrawing is performed to a set of drawing objects corresponding to apredetermined region without considering the drawing order, it is notinfluenced, the character train objects in the set are transferred ascharacter train information, and if it is influenced, the charactertrain objects are transferred as image information. The discriminatorexamines drawing data in each of regions obtained by dividing a regioncorresponding to one page of the recording paper into a plurality oflogic regions and extracts only the character train objects in theregion which satisfies the following conditions.

[0073] Case where only the character trains of the same color exist inthe region

[0074] Case where only the drawing objects which do not exert aninfluence on the drawing result even if the drawing order is slightlychanged exist, namely, the case where all of the character train objectsand the graphics objects in the region show the same color and, forexample, any special raster operations other than the overwriting andthe OR are not applied.

[0075] 2) Space discriminator

[0076] To discriminate that no drawing object is overlaid on thecharacter train objects in one page, for each of the character trainobjects in one page, all of the overlaps with the drawing objectsinputted after that have to be discriminated. It is necessary to performthe discrimination of the number of times on the order of the square ofthe number of drawing objects. The space discriminator, therefore, hasthe following two features.

[0077] (1) One page is divided into a plurality of regions and theforegoing overlap discrimination is executed to the drawing objectsincluded in the region.

[0078] (2) When the time that is required for discrimination exceeds apredetermined limit time/the number of times, the discrimination isstopped and all of the character train objects are outputted as imageinformation.

[0079] In case of the embodiment,

[0080] the character train objects which are not influenced by thedrawing order are extracted by the attribute discriminator in a formsuch that the space discriminator is applied to the character trainobjects which cannot be extracted.

[0081]FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a construction of a systemconstructed by the host 3000, printer 1500, and bidirectional interface(hereinafter, simply referred to as a bidirectional I/F) 21 for mutuallyconnecting them.

[0082] The host 3000 comprises: a main unit 2000; and peripheralequipment such as keyboard (KB) 9, CRT display (CRT) 10, externalstorage 11 such as hard disk (HD), floppy disk (FD), or the like tostore a boot program, various applications, font data, user file,edition file, etc., and the like.

[0083] In the main unit 2000, the CPU 1 integratedly controls eachelement connected to a system bus 4 constructing the main unit 2000 andexecutes a process of a document in which figures, images, characters,tables (including a spreadsheet), and the like mixedly exist on thebasis of a document processing program or the like stored in a programROM 3 b. A control program including a program regarding a flowchartwhich is executed by the CPU 1 and will be explained hereinlater or thelike is stored in the program ROM 3 b as well as the document processingprogram. Font data which is used at the time of the document process andthe like are stored in a font ROM 3 a. Various constant data which isused when the document process or the like is executed is stored in adata ROM 3 c.

[0084] Reference numeral 2 denotes an RAM which is used as a work areawhen the CPU 1 executes various processes and control; 5 a keyboardcontroller (KBC) to control a key input from the keyboard (KB) 9 or apointing device (not shown); 6 a CRT controller (CRTC) for controlling adisplay of the CRT display (CRT) 10; 7 a disk controller (DKC) forcontrolling an access to the external storage 11; and 8 a printercontroller (PRTC) for connecting the printer 1500 through thebidirectional I/F 21 and executing a communication control process withthe printer 1500.

[0085] Reference numeral 4 denotes the CPU bus for mutually connectingthe above component elements.

[0086] The printer 1500 is constructed by a controller 10007 a printerengine (hereinafter, referred to as an engine) 17, an external storage14, and an operation unit (operation panel) 1501.

[0087] In the controller 1000, a CPU 12 integratedly controls accessesto various devices which are connected to a system bus 15 on the basisof the control program or the like stored in the program ROM 13 b or thecontrol program or the like stored in the external storage 14 andgenerates an image signal to the engine 17 which is connected through anengine interface (hereinafter, referred to as an engine I/F) 16.Further, the CPU 12 can communicate with the host 3000 through a hostinterface (hereinafter, referred to as a host I/F) 18 and can notify thehost 3000 of information or the like in the printer 1500.

[0088] A control program or the like which is executed by the CPU 12,which will be explained hereinlater, is stored in the program ROM 13 b.Font data or the like which is used when the CPU 12 generates imageinformation is stored in the font ROM 13 a. In case of a printer withoutthe external storage 14 such as a hard disk (HD) or the like,information or the like which is used on the host 3000 has been storedin the data ROM 13 c.

[0089] An RAM 19 is used as a work area when the CPU 12 executes thecontrol program and can expand a memory capacity by an option RAM whichis enclosed in an expansion port (not shown). An image informationdeveloping area, an environment data storing area, an area which is usedin an NVRAM, an accumulating area to compress and store data, and thelike are provided in the RAM 19. The hard disk (HD), IC card, or thelike is access controlled as an external storage 14 by a disk controller(DKC) 20. The external storage 14 is connected as an option and storesfont data, an emulation program, form data, and the like. Switches for auser operation, an LED or an LCD, and the like are arranged on theoperation panel 1501.

[0090]FIG. 4 is a side sectional view showing an internal structure of aprinter including the printer engine 17 to record by using theelectrophotographic system.

[0091] In FIG. 4, reference numeral 1500 denotes the laser beam printer(LBP) for forming an image onto a recording paper serving as a recordingmedium on the basis of a character pattern or the like which issupplied. Reference numeral 1501 denotes the operation panel in whichthe switches for the operation, an LED display, and the like arearranged. Reference numeral 1000 denotes the controller for performing acontrol of the whole LBP 1500 and analyzing the character patterninformation or the like. In the block diagram of FIG. 2, portions exceptfor the engine 17, operation panel 1501, and external storage 14 areincluded in the controller 1000.

[0092] A laser driver 1502 is a circuit to drive a semiconductor laser1503 and on/off switches a laser beam 1504 which is emitted from thesemiconductor laser 1503 in accordance with an inputted video signal.The laser beam 1504 is swung to the right and left by a rotary polygonmirror 1505 and scans on an electrostatic drum 1506. Thus, anelectrostatic latent image of a character pattern is formed on theelectrostatic drum 1506. The latent image is developed by a developingunit 1507 around the electrostatic drum 1506 and, after that, it istransferred onto the recording paper. Cut sheets are used as recordingpapers. The cut sheet recording papers are enclosed in a sheet cassette1508 set in the LBP 1500 and are fed one by one into the apparatus by afeed roller 1509 and conveying rollers 1510 and 1511 and supplied to theelectrostatic drum 1506. The LBP 1500 has at least one or more cardslots (not shown) and is constructed such that an option font card and acontrol card (emulation card) of a different language can be connectedto the LBP in addition to the built-in font.

[0093] The given print data is recorded and outputted onto the paper asmentioned above.

[0094] The printer to which the embodiment can be applied is not limitedto the laser beam printer but a printer of another printing system, forexample, an ink jet system can be also used.

[0095]FIG. 5 is an external perspective view showing an outline of aconstruction of an ink jet printer IJRA. In FIG. 5, a carriage HC whichis come into engagement with a spiral groove 5004 of a lead screw 5005which is rotated through driving force transfer gears 5009 to 5011 inassociation with the forward/reverse rotation of a driving motor 5013has a pin (not shown). The carriage HC is supported by a guide rail 5003and is reciprocated in the directions shown by arrows a and b. Anintegrated type ink jet cartridge IJC having therein a recording headIJH and an ink tank IT is mounted on the carriage HC. Reference numeral5002 denotes a paper pressing plate for pressing a recording paper P inthe moving direction of the carriage HC toward a platen 5000. Referencenumerals 5007 and 5008 denote photocouplers serving as home positiondetectors for confirming the existence of a lever 5006 of the carriagein a region corresponding to each photocoupler and executing a switchingor the like of the rotating direction of the motor 5013. Referencenumeral 5016 denotes a member for supporting a cap member 5022 to cap afront surface of the recording head IJH and 5015 a sucking device tosuck the air in the cap. The sucking device executes a sucking recoveryof the recording head through an opening 5023 in the cap. Referencenumeral 5017 denotes a cleaning blade and 5019 indicates a member forenabling the blade to be moved in the front/rear directions. Thecleaning blade 5017 and member 5019 are supported to a main bodysupporting plate 5018. The blade is not limited to a form shown in thediagram but a well-known cleaning blade can be also obviously applied tothe embodiment. Reference numeral 5021 denotes a lever to start thesucking of the sucking recovery. The lever 5021 moves in associationwith the movement of a cam 5020 which is come into engagement with thecarriage. A driving force from the driving motor is transferred by awell-known transfer mechanism such as a clutch switch or the like.

[0096] The capping, cleaning, and sucking recovery are constructed in amanner such that when the carriage reaches the area on the home positionside, a desired process can be performed at their correspondingpositions by the operation of the lead screw 5005. However, if a desiredoperation is performed at a well-known timing, any one of the aboveconstructions can be applied to the embodiment.

[0097] In the system constructed as mentioned above, when the user whouses the host 3000 supplies print information such as various charactertrain information, image information, and the like, a print command, andthe like to the printer 1500 through the bidirectional I/F, the printer1500 generates corresponding print information or the like in accordancewith those information and forms an image onto the recording medium suchas a recording paper.

[0098] A detailed block diagram of the character train separator 400shown in FIG. 6 will now be more specifically explained hereinbelow.

[0099] (1) Band divider M1

[0100]FIG. 7 shows an example in which one page is divided into fourlateral bands 401 to 404. Three character train objects “ABCD”411,“EFGH”413, and “IJKL” 416 and three graphics object rectangle fills(painting) 412, an oval 415, and a line segment 414 are included in thispage. Among them, a rectangle fill object is drawn on the charactertrain object “ABCD” and a part thereof is hidden.

[0101] The band divider Ml processes a set of drawing objects in FIG. 7and forms band lists of the drawing objects as shown in FIG. 8. The“band list” is a list of information of the drawing object whose regionoverlays on each band of one page. Band lists 501 to 504 correspond tothe band regions 401 to 404, respectively. As for a correspondingrelation between the band lists and the band regions, the band list andthe band region in which the number of lower one digit of each of thereference numerals in FIGS. 7 and 8 is the same number correspond toeach other. Information (in this example, the upper left coordinates andthe lower right coordinates of a rectangle forming the band) of eachband region is made concerned with each other in the band lists 501 to504. An overlap of the information of the band region and the regioninformation of each drawing object is discriminated. When they areoverlapped, a linking to the drawing object is performed to the end ofthe band list. For example, after the character train “ABCD” 411 wasdrawn, a rectangle fill 513 is drawn in the band 401 in FIG. 4.Therefore, the character train “ABCD” 511 and rectangle fill 512 arelinked in the band list 501 corresponding to the band 401 from the headin accordance with the drawing order. Such processes are executed foreach band until the drawing objects of one page do not exist.

[0102]FIG. 9 shows a flowchart for the band dividing process. Thedetails of the process in each step in FIG. 9 are as follows.

[0103] Step S61:

[0104] An arrangement of the band lists (band lists 501 to 504 in FIG.8) is prepared and a size of region of each band is stored into thearrangement by a form of upper left coordinates and lower rightcoordinates.

[0105] Step S62:

[0106] Processes in steps S63 to S68 are repeated until the drawingobjects of one page do not exist.

[0107] Step S63:

[0108] One of the inputted drawing objects is received.

[0109] Step S64:

[0110] The processes in steps S65 to S67 are repeated for each elementof the arrangement of the band lists.

[0111] Step S65:

[0112] Whether the inputted drawing objects are included in the presentband or not is discriminated.

[0113] Step S66:

[0114] When it is determined in step S65 that the drawing objects areincluded, a link to the drawing objects is registered to the end of thepresent band list.

[0115] Step S67:

[0116] Indicates the termination of a loop in step S64. That is, theprocesses in steps S65 and S66 are repeated with respect to all of theband lists.

[0117] Step S68:

[0118] Indicates the termination of a loop in step S62. That is, theprocesses in steps S63 to S67 are repeated with respect to all of thedrawing objects included in one page.

[0119]

[0120] Step S69:

[0121] An arrangement of the band lists is outputted.

[0122] By the above procedure, one page is divided into the bands and alist of the drawing objects in which even a part of them are included ineach band can be formed in accordance with the drawing order.

[0123] (2) Attribute discriminator M2

[0124] When the band list is formed by the above processes, on the basisof the band list, the drawing order and the overlap of the drawingobjects are discriminated every band by the attribute discriminator M2.

[0125]FIGS. 10A and 10B are diagrams showing examples in the case wherethe overlap of character trains and figures has to be considered and thecase where there is no need to consider such an overlap. Although FIGS.10A and 10B are diagrams shown by black and white monochromaticgradations, the following expressions such as “same color”, “differentcolor”, and the like are cited with respect to the relation for thecolors defined for the printing system. In FIGS. 10A and 10B, referencenumerals 71 and 72 denote recording papers (although the color of thepaper becomes the background color, it is assumed that the color istransparent in this case). FIG. 10A shows the example in the case wherethe overlap of the character trains and the figures has to beconsidered. Fig. 10B shows the example in the case where there is noneed to consider the overlap of the character trains and the figures.Each of the examples will now be described in detail hereinbelow.

[0126] (i) Example of Fig. 10A in which the overlap of the charactertrains and the figures has to be considered

[0127] Case where a character train 701 and a painted rectangle 702 areexpressed by different colors and their drawing objects are drawn byoverwriting

EXAMPLE a1.

[0128] Case where a character train 703 and a line segment 704 areexpressed by different colors and their drawing objects are drawn byoverwriting (Example: a2).

[0129] Case where a character train 705 and a character train 706 areexpressed by different colors and their drawing objects are drawn byoverwriting (Example: a3).

[0130] Case where a part of a character train 707 is drawn under aregion of a background color (color of a region which is defined behindthe character train in order to emphasize the color of characters or toallow the characters to be easily distinguished) of a character train708 (Example: a4).

[0131] Case where a part of the character train 708 is overwritten in abit pattern 709 whose background color is not transparent (Example: a5).

[0132] (ii) Example of Fig. 10B in the case where there is no need toconsider the overlap of the character trains and the figures

[0133] Case where a character train 711 and a painted rectangle 712 areexpressed by the same color and their drawing objects are drawn byoverwriting or the OR (Example: b1).

[0134] Case where a character train 713 and a line segment 714 areexpressed by the same color and their drawing objects are drawn byoverwriting or the OR (Example: b2).

[0135] Case where a character train 715 and a character train 716 areexpressed by the same color and their drawing objects are drawn byoverwriting or the OR (Example: b3).

[0136] Case where the background colors of both of a character train 717and a character train 718 are transparent (Example: b4).

[0137] Case where the character train 718 and a bit pattern 719 aredrawn by the OR or the character train 718 and the bit pattern 719 whosebackground color is transparent are overwritten (Example: b5).

[0138] The attribute discriminator M2 actually discriminates inaccordance with a flowchart shown in FIG. 11 in order to discriminatethe example where the overlap of the character trains and the figureshas to be considered and the example where there is no need to considersuch an overlap as mentioned above. The discriminating process will nowbe described in detail hereinbelow with reference to FIG. 11.

[0139] First in step S81, a check is made to see if the character trainexists in the band region. When no character train exists, theprocessing routine advances to step S85 and the process is shifted to aspace discriminator M3. After that, the processing routine is finished.On the other hand, when the character train exists in the region, stepS82 follows.

[0140] In step S82, a check is made to see if the drawing objectsexisting in the region are the same color. In consideration of the casesof Examples al, a2, and a3 described in FIGS. 10A and 10B, in the casewhere the drawing objects of different colors exist, the processingroutine advances to step S85. When the drawing objects are the samecolor, step S83 follows.

[0141] Further in step S83, for example, a check is made to see if thereis a special drawing method such that the AND of two drawing objects iscalculated and the drawing is performed or the like. In other words, acheck is made to see if any special drawing other than the overwritingor the OR arithmetic operation is performed. When it is decided thatthere is the special drawing method, the processing routine advances tostep S85. When it is determined that the drawing method is performed onthe basis of only the overwriting or the OR arithmetic operation, stepS84 follows.

[0142] In step S84, a check is made to see if the drawing is performedby the overwriting and the background color of the characters or bitpattern is transparent. In consideration of the cases of Examples a4 anda5 described in Figs. 10A and 10B, when the background color is nottransparent, step S85 follows. When the background color is transparent,the processing routine advances to step S86 and it is determined thatthe character train objects in the region are processed as charactertrain information.

[0143] On the basis of the discrimination results, the discriminatingmodule M2 finally determines whether character train objects in theregion are set to drawing objects 303 which are processed as charactertrain information or the process is shifted to the space discriminatorM3.

[0144] (3) Space discriminator M3

[0145] When the drawing objects as many as one band which are processedas image information from the attribute discriminator M2 are inputted,the character train objects to be processed as character traininformation and the graphics information to be processed as imageinformation are outputted, respectively. The drawing objects to beprocessed as image information are now defined as graphics information.FIG. 12 shows a flowchart for the space discriminator M3 of thecharacter train. The details of the process in each step will now bedescribed hereinbelow.

[0146] Step S701:

[0147] The drawing object information is sequentially examined until thecharacter train object is found in accordance with the order from thehead of the inputted band lists. If it is not the character trainobject, it is outputted as graphics information. This process isrepeated until the character train object is found. The found charactertrain object is registered into the character train list. The charactertrain list is a list of candidates of the character train objects whichare outputted as character train information and has a constructionsimilar to FIG. 8 except for a point that no graphics object isincluded.

[0148] Step S702:

[0149] Discriminating process to form a loop in order to process all ofthe drawing objects. If all of the drawing objects were processed, theprocessing routine is branched to step S711. If NO, step S703 follows.

[0150] Step S703:

[0151] The number N_(cnt) of times of overlap discrimination of theobjects which were performed so far is counted by adding “1” each timethe processing routine executes this step. If a count value is equal toor less than a predetermined reference value N_(ref), step S704 follows.If the count value exceeds the limited number of times, step S710follows.

[0152] Step S704:

[0153] The next drawing object is read out as a target object from theband list and the overlap of the regions of each of the character trainobjects registered in the character train list and the target drawingobject is discriminated.

[0154] Step S705:

[0155] If the character train object whose region is overlapped existsin the character train list in step S704, the processing routineadvances to step S706. If they are not overlapped at all, step S707follows.

[0156] Step S706:

[0157] The character train objects which are overlapped to the targetobject are removed from the character train list and those charactertrain objects are outputted as graphics information.

[0158] Step S707:

[0159] The kind of target object is discriminated. In case of thegraphics object, step S708 follows. In case of the character trainobject, step S709 follows.

[0160] Step S708:

[0161] The target object is outputted as graphics information.

[0162] Step S709:

[0163] The target object is registered into the character train list.

[0164] Step S710:

[0165] Since the number N_(cnt) of times of overlap discrimination withthe character train objects exceeds the reference value N_(ref), thedrawing objects of the character train list are outputted as a graphicsinformation. After that, the rest of the drawing objects are outputtedas graphics information. This is because the character train objects inthe character train list are the drawing objects to be drawn earlierthan the unprocessed drawing objects in the band list as a drawingorder. The outputting order has an important meaning.

[0166] Step S711:

[0167] Since it is determined that the character train object registeredin the character train list is the character train object which does notoverlap within the reference value of the overlap discrimination, thecharacter train object in the character train list is outputted.

[0168] According to the embodiment, prior to discriminating the overlapof the objects, whether the object is an object in which there is noneed to consider the drawing order or not is discriminated by thediscrimination of the attribute. This is because it is necessary toperform the discrimination of the number of times on the order of afactorial of the number of objects in order to discriminate the overlap.

[0169] In the host computer of the above construction, by executing theprogram of FIG. 13, the printing system of the construction of FIG. 1can be realized. The procedure of FIG. 13 is included in what is calleda printer driver and the image of one page is outputted. It issufficient to repeat the above processes the number of timescorresponding to the number of pages in order to output a plurality ofpages. Among them, the procedures of FIGS. 9, 11, and 12 are realized asprograms.

[0170] In FIG. 13, the drawing objects included in the image of one pageare first sequentially inputted in step S101. In step S102, band listsare formed in accordance with the procedure of FIG. 9 from the drawingobjects inputted in step S101. When the band lists are formed, attentionis sequentially paid from the head band list (step S103) and thecharacter train objects in which there is no need to consider theoverlap and the objects in which it is necessary to consider the overlapare separated by the procedures of FIGS. 11 and 12. The separatedobjects, namely, the objects generated in FIGS. 11 and 12 are oncestored into a hard disk device or the like and, when the objects as muchas one page are fully stored, the processing routine advances to thenext step (step S105).

[0171] In step S106, the separated character train objects of one pageare converted into the character train information. The character traininformation is transmitted to the printer in step S107. In step S108,the other separated objects are converted into the image information.The character train objects on which the other objects overlap are alsoincluded in the other images. They are developed by using the font filestored in the hard disk or the like. The objects are sequentiallydeveloped into images in accordance with the overlapping order.

[0172] The formed image information is transmitted to the printer.

[0173] The objects of one page are transmitted to the printer inaccordance with the above procedures. Since the character train objectsare transmitted to the printer prior to the other objects, the charactertrain objects can be developed in parallel with the making of the imageinformation in the host computer.

[0174] In FIG. 14, the character train information or image informationis formed from each drawing object in a lump on a page unit basis.However, the process in step S105 is shifted just after step S109 andthe conversion and transmission of the information can be also performedon a band unit basis. By using this method, the printer can sequentiallyprint and output the formed bands. Therefore, the time until the startof the printing can be reduced and the memory capacity that is necessaryto form the image can be also decreased.

[0175] Other Embodiments

[0176] The invention can be applied to a system constructed by aplurality of equipment (for instance, a host computer, interfaceequipment, a reader, a printer, and the like) or can be also applied toan apparatus (for example, a copying apparatus, a facsimile apparatus,or the like) comprising one equipment.

[0177] Another object of the invention can be also accomplished by amethod whereby a storage medium in which program codes of software torealize the function of the foregoing embodiment have been recorded issupplied to a system or an apparatus and a computer (or a CPU or an MPU)of the system or apparatus reads out and executes the program codesstored in the storage medium.

[0178] In this case, the program codes themselves read out from thestorage medium realize the function of the foregoing embodiment. Thestorage medium in which the program codes have been stored constructsthe invention.

[0179] As a storage medium to supply the program codes, for example, itis possible to use a floppy disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, amagnetooptic disk, a CD-ROM, a CD-R, a magnetic tape, a non-volatilememory card, an ROM, or the like.

[0180] Not only a case where the function of the foregoing embodiment isrealized by executing the readout program codes by the computer but alsoa case where the OS (Operating System) or the like which operates on thecomputer executes a part or all of the actual processes on the basis ofan instruction of the program codes and the function of the foregoingembodiment is realized by the processes is incorporated.

[0181] Further, there is also incorporated a case where the programcodes read out from the storage medium are written into a memoryprovided for a function expanding board inserted in the computer or afunction expanding unit connected to the computer and, after that, onthe basis of an instruction of the program codes, the CPU or the likeprovided for the function expanding board or function expanding unitexecutes a part or all of the actual processes, and the function of theforegoing embodiment is realized by the processes.

[0182] According to the invention as described above, the followingeffects are obtained.

[0183] (1) It is possible to print by the printer by the designateddrawing result.

[0184] (2) The attributes and the overlap of the character train objectsand the other objects such as graphics or the like are discriminated.The character train objects in which there is no need to consider theoverlap are transmitted as character train information to the printer,thereby reducing an amount of data to be transmitted. By developing theimage in parallel with the printer, the processing efficiency isimproved, the overlap degree of the drawing objects is preserved, andthe drawing objects can be outputted as an inherent image formed fromthe printer.

[0185] (3) Since the reference time and the limited number of times areprovided for discrimination of the overlap, a situation such that longtime is consumed for discrimination can be prevented.

[0186] (4) Further, since it is sufficient to perform the processes inthe printer in a manner similar to the conventional manner, the aboveadvantages can be obtained by merely changing the image processingapparatus side.

What is claimed is:
 1. An information processing apparatus comprising:discriminating means for discriminating whether objects are drawingobjects to be drawn in consideration of a drawing order or not; andtransfer means for, when it is determined by said discriminating meansthat the objects are the drawing objects to be drawn in consideration ofthe drawing order, forming image data corresponding to said drawingobjects and transferring formed image data as print data to a printerand for, when it is decided by said discriminating means that theobjects are the drawing objects in which there is no need to draw inconsideration of the drawing order, forming code data corresponding tosaid drawing objects and transferring formed code data as print data tothe printer.
 2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said transfermeans is constructed in a manner such that in the case where it isdetermined by said discriminating means that the objects are the drawingobjects to be drawn in consideration of the drawing order, image datacorresponding to the drawing objects corresponding to characters anddrawing objects corresponding to figures is formed and formed image datais transferred as print data to the printer, and in the case where it isdetermined by said discriminating means that the objects are the drawingobjects in which there is no need to draw in consideration of thedrawing order, code data corresponding to the drawing objectscorresponding to the characters is formed, image data corresponding tothe drawing objects corresponding to the figures is formed, and formedcode data and formed image data are transferred as print data to theprinter.
 3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said drawingobject includes characters and figures.
 4. An apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein in the case where colors of patterns which areexpressed by a first drawing object and a second drawing object aredifferent, the case where as a drawing of the drawing objects, there isa drawing other than an overwriting and an OR, the case where thedrawing of the drawing object is performed by overwriting and anattribute of a background color is not transparent, or the case wherethe first drawing object and the second drawing object are objects suchthat if the drawing order is changed, a same drawing result is notobtained, said discriminating means determines that the objects are thedrawing objects to be drawn in consideration of the drawing order.
 5. Anapparatus according to claim 1, wherein in the case where colors ofpatterns which are expressed by a first drawing object and a seconddrawing object are the same and said patterns are drawn by overwritingor an OR, the case where the first drawing object and the second drawingobject are the objects such that even if the drawing order is changed, asame drawing result is obtained, the case where background colors of thepatterns which are expressed by the first drawing object and the seconddrawing object are transparent, the case where the patterns expressed bysaid first drawing object and the second drawing object are drawn by theOR, or the case where the pattern of the first drawing object and thepattern in which the background color of the second drawing object istransparent are drawn by overwriting, said discriminating meansdetermines that the objects are the drawing objects in which there is noneed to draw in consideration of the drawing order.
 6. An apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein said printer forms image datacorresponding to code data to be transferred, synthesizes formed imagedata and image data to be transferred, and prints synthesized imagedata.
 7. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising decidingmeans for deciding whether the drawing object is overlaid to anotherdrawing object in a predetermined region or not in the case where it isdetermined by said discriminating means that the objects are the drawingobjects to be drawn in consideration of the drawing order, and whereinin the case where it is decided by said deciding means that the drawingobject and the other drawing object overlap, said transfer means formsimage data corresponding to said drawing object and transfers formedimage data as print data to the printer, and in the case where it isdecided by said deciding means that said drawing object and the otherdrawing object do not overlap, said transfer means forms code datacorresponding to said drawing object and transfers formed code data asprint data to the printer.
 8. An apparatus according to claim 1, whereinsaid discriminating means includes deciding means for deciding whetherthe drawing object and another drawing object in a predetermined regionoverlap or not.
 9. An apparatus according to claim 8, further comprisingmeans for stopping a decision by said deciding means, forming image datacorresponding to the drawing object, and transmitting formed image datato the printer in the case where a decision by said deciding meansreaches a predetermined number of times or the case where the decisionby said deciding means elapses a predetermined time.
 10. An apparatusaccording to claim 8, wherein said predetermined region is a regionobtained by dividing a region corresponding to one page into one or aplurality of regions.
 11. An apparatus according to claim 9, whereinsaid predetermined region is a region obtained by dividing a regioncorresponding to one page into one or a plurality of regions.
 12. Aninformation processing method comprising: a discriminating step ofdiscriminating whether objects are drawing objects to be drawn inconsideration of a drawing order or not; and a transfer step of, when itis determined by said discriminating step that the objects are thedrawing objects to be drawn in consideration of the drawing order,forming image data corresponding to said drawing objects andtransferring formed image data as print data to a printer and, when itis decided by said discriminating step that the objects are the drawingobjects in which there is no need to draw in consideration of thedrawing order, forming code data corresponding to said drawing objectsand transferring formed code data as print data to the printer.
 13. Amethod according to claim 12, wherein in said transfer step, in the casewhere it is determined by said discriminating step that the objects arethe drawing objects to be drawn in consideration of the drawing order,image data corresponding to the drawing objects corresponding tocharacters and drawing objects corresponding to figures is formed andformed image data is transferred as print data to a printer, and in thecase where it is determined by said discriminating step that the objectsare the drawing objects in which there is no need to draw inconsideration of the drawing order, code data corresponding to thedrawing objects corresponding to the characters is formed, image datacorresponding to the drawing objects corresponding to the figures isformed, and formed code data and formed image data are transferred asprint data to the printer.
 14. A method according to claim 12, whereinsaid drawing object includes characters and figures.
 15. A methodaccording to claim 12, wherein in said discriminating step, in the casewhere colors of patterns which are expressed by a first drawing objectand a second drawing object are different, the case where as a drawingof the drawing objects, there is a drawing other than an overwriting andan OR, the case where the drawing of the drawing object is performed byoverwriting and an attribute of a background color is not transparent,or the case where the first drawing object and the second drawing objectare drawing objects such that if the drawing order is changed, a samedrawing result is not obtained, it is determined that the objects arethe drawing objects to be drawn in consideration of the drawing order.16. A method according to claim 12, wherein in said discriminating step,in the case where colors of patterns which are expressed by a firstdrawing object and a second drawing object are the same and saidpatterns are drawn by overwriting or an OR, the case where the firstdrawing object and the second drawing object are the objects such thateven if the drawing order is changed, a same drawing result is obtained,the case where background colors of the patterns which are expressed bythe first drawing object and the second drawing object are transparent,the case where the patterns expressed by the first drawing object andthe second drawing object are drawn by the OR, or the case where thepattern of the first drawing object and the pattern in which thebackground color of the second drawing object is transparent are drawnby overwriting, it is determined that the objects are the drawingobjects in which there is no need to draw in consideration of thedrawing order.
 17. A method according to claim 12, wherein said printerforms image data corresponding to code data to be transferred,synthesizes formed image data and image data to be transferred, andprints synthesized image data.
 18. A method according to claim 12,further comprising a deciding step of deciding whether the drawingobject is overlaid to another drawing object in a predetermined regionor not in the case where it is determined by said discriminating stepthat the objects are the drawing objects to be drawn in consideration ofthe drawing order, and wherein in said transfer step, in the case whereit is decided by said deciding step that the drawing object and theother drawing object overlap, image data corresponding to said drawingobject is formed and formed image data is transferred as print data tothe printer, and in the case where it is decided by said deciding stepthat said drawing object and the other drawing object do not overlap,code data corresponding to said drawing object is formed and formed codedata is transferred as print data to the printer.
 19. A method accordingto claim 12, wherein said discriminating step includes a deciding stepof deciding whether the drawing object and another drawing object in apredetermined region overlap or not.
 20. A method according to claim 19,further comprising a step of stopping a decision by said deciding step,forming image data corresponding to the drawing object, and transmittingformed image data to the printer in the case where a decision by saiddeciding step reaches a predetermined number of times or the case wherethe decision by said deciding step elapses a predetermined time.
 21. Amethod according to claim 19, wherein said predetermined region is aregion obtained by dividing a region corresponding to one page into oneor a plurality of regions.
 22. A method according to claim 20, whereinsaid predetermined region is a region obtained by dividing a regioncorresponding to one page into one or a plurality of regions.
 23. Astorage medium in which programs are stored, wherein said programscomprise: a discriminating step of discriminating whether objects aredrawing objects to be drawn in consideration of a drawing order or not;and a transfer step of, when it is determined by said discriminatingstep that the objects are the drawing objects to be drawn inconsideration of the drawing order, forming image data corresponding tosaid drawing objects and transferring formed image data as print data toa printer and, when it is decided by said discriminating step that theobjects are the drawing objects in which there is no need to draw inconsideration of the drawing order, forming code data corresponding tosaid drawing objects and transferring formed code data as print data tothe printer.
 24. A medium according to claim 23, wherein in saidtransfer step, in the case where it is determined by said discriminatingstep that the objects are the drawing objects to be drawn inconsideration of the drawing order, image data corresponding to thedrawing objects corresponding to characters and the drawing objectscorresponding to figures is formed and formed image data is transferredas print data to the printer, and in the case where it is determined bysaid discriminating step that the objects are the drawing objects inwhich there is no need to draw in consideration of the drawing order,code data corresponding to the drawing objects corresponding to thecharacters is formed, image data corresponding to the drawing objectscorresponding to the figures is formed, and formed code data and formedimage data are transferred as print data to the printer.
 25. A mediumaccording to claim 23, wherein said drawing object includes charactersand figures.
 26. A medium according to claim 23, wherein in saiddiscriminating step, in the case where colors of patterns which areexpressed by a first drawing object and a second drawing object aredifferent, the case where as a drawing of the drawing objects, there isa drawing other than an overwriting and an OR, the case where thedrawing of the drawing object is performed by overwriting and anattribute of a background color is not transparent, or the case wherethe first drawing object and the second drawing object are objects suchthat even if the drawing order is changed, a same drawing result is notobtained, it is determined that the objects are the drawing objects tobe drawn in consideration of the drawing order.
 27. A medium accordingto claim 23, wherein in said discriminating step, in the case wherecolors of patterns which are expressed by a first drawing object and asecond drawing object are the same and said patterns are drawn byoverwriting or an OR, the case where the first drawing object and thesecond drawing object are the objects such that even if the drawingorder is changed, a same drawing result is obtained, the case wherebackground colors of the patterns which are expressed by the firstdrawing object and the second drawing object are transparent, the casewhere the patterns expressed by the first drawing object and the seconddrawing object are drawn by the OR, or the case where the pattern of thefirst drawing object and the pattern in which the background color ofthe second drawing object is transparent are drawn by overwriting, it isdetermined that the objects are the drawing objects in which there is noneed to draw in consideration of the drawing order.
 28. A mediumaccording to claim 23, wherein said printer forms image datacorresponding to code data to be transferred, synthesizes formed imagedata and image data to be transferred, and prints synthesized imagedata.
 29. A medium according to claim 23, further comprising a decidingstep of deciding whether the drawing object is overlaid to anotherdrawing object in a predetermined region or not in the case where it isdetermined by said discriminating step that the objects are the drawingobjects to be drawn in consideration of the drawing order, and whereinin said transfer step, in the case where it is decided by said decidingstep that the drawing object and the other drawing object overlap, imagedata corresponding to said drawing object is formed and formed imagedata is transferred as print data to the printer, and in the case whereit is decided by said deciding step that said drawing object and theother drawing object do not overlap, code data corresponding to saiddrawing object is formed and formed code data is transferred as printdata to the printer.
 30. A medium according to claim 23, wherein saiddiscriminating step includes a deciding step of deciding whether thedrawing object and another drawing object in a predetermined regionoverlap or not.
 31. A medium according to claim 30, further comprising astep of stopping a decision by said deciding step, forming image datacorresponding to the drawing object, and transmitting formed image datato the printer in the case where the decision by said deciding stepreaches a predetermined number of times or the case where the decisionby said deciding step elapses a predetermined time.
 32. A mediumaccording to claim 30, wherein said predetermined region is a regionobtained by dividing a region corresponding to one page into one or aplurality of regions.
 33. A medium according to claim 31, wherein saidpredetermined region is a region obtained by dividing a regioncorresponding to one page into one or a plurality of regions.
 34. Aprinting system comprising: an information processing apparatus havingdiscriminating means for discriminating whether objects are drawingobjects to be drawn in consideration of a drawing order or not andtransfer means for, when it is determined by said discriminating meansthat the objects are the drawing objects to be drawn in consideration ofthe drawing order, forming image data corresponding to said drawingobjects and transferring formed image data as print data to a printerand for, when it is decided by said discriminating means that theobjects are the drawing objects in which there is no need to draw inconsideration of the drawing order, forming code data corresponding tosaid drawing objects and transferring formed code data as print data tothe printer; and said printer for forming image data corresponding tothe code data to be transferred by said information processingapparatus, synthesizing formed image data and image data to betransferred, and printing synthesized image data.
 35. An apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein said discriminating means does notdiscriminate the overlap of said drawing objects.
 36. A method accordingto claim 12, wherein in said discriminating step, the overlap of saiddrawing objects is not discriminated.
 37. A medium according to claim23, wherein in said discriminating step, the overlap of said drawingobjects is not discriminated.